New year, new baby? Resources for new parents

Approximately 69,000 babies are born each year in Colorado. For many parents, choosing the right car seat is one of the first challenges of having a new baby. Using the correct car seat can save a child's life in a crash, so it’s important to properly secure young children and follow all manufacturer recommendations on the car seat label.

For newborns to children 3 years of age, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends rear-facing car seats placed in the back seat of the vehicle. The base and seat should be tightly secured.

To ensure that your child is safely secured, select a car seat that fits your child’s age, weight, height and physical development, and have the car seat inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Do not add padding or other items to the car seat unless approved by the manufacturer and check on current car seat and booster seat recalls.

New parents should visit CarSeatsColorado.com for more resources.

Car Seats Colorado's mission is to provide an environment in Colorado where every child is properly secured in an approved and appropriate restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle. CDOT and Car Seats Colorado offer a series of downloadable brochures that offer guidance on securing your child properly in your vehicle. If you would like to order printed brochures, please contact [email protected]. In your message, please include your name, mailing address, materials and quantities requested.